MS Dhoni will lead India in three T20 matches and the first three One-Day Internationals against South Africa in a series beginning October, the BCCI announced on Sunday.

MS Dhoni will lead India in the three T20 Internationals and first three ODIs against South Africa.(AFP file photo)

MS Dhoni will lead India in three T20 matches and the first three One-Day Internationals against South Africa in a series beginning October, the BCCI announced on Sunday.

“We’ve not discussed the issue of ODI captaincy as we’re very happy with the way Dhoni is leading,” chief selector Sandip Patil said, quelling rumours about Virat Kohli taking over.

Young Punjab all-rounder Gurkeerat Singh today earned his maiden call-up into the Indian ODI team while Karnataka left-arm seamer Srinath Aravind was a surprise inclusion in the T20 squad picked by the selectors for the limited-overs leg against the Proteas.

The notable omissions from the ODI squad were left-arm spinner Ravindra Jadeja and pacer Dhawal Kulkarni, who were part of the team that had toured Bangladesh in June this year.

“The same set of people will continue till the T20 World Cup, which will be held in March next year,” BCCI secretary Anurag Thakur said.

Leg-spinner Amit Mishra’s good show against Sri Lanka was also rewarded as he found a place in both the squads. Opener Shikhar Dhawan, recuperating from a hand fracture he suffered during the first Test against Sri Lanka last month, was also included in both the squads.

After being rested for the Zimbabwe tour, seniors such as Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, Ravichandran Ashwin and Suresh Raina were automatic selections in both squads and so were the likes of Ambati Rayudu and Mohit Sharma.

While Umesh Yadav has been included in the ODI squad, Varun Aaron was not considered for selection in any of the squads.

Fast bowler Mohammed Shami was not included in the squad as he is still undergoing rehabilitation for a knee injury he suffered during the tour of Australia in 2014-15. Shami last played for India during the 2015 World Cup and has since been ignored in competitive cricket.